[bigboydan]

Like the Rams don't already have enough problems this year. Now they lose Pace for the year.

Rams lose offensive line anchor Pace for season

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in the season opener Sunday and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.


An MRI exam Monday revealed the damage to Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Pace was injured on the first play after the two-minute warning while pass-blocking against the Panthers' Julius Peppers, minor jostling that didn't appear out of the ordinary.

"I feel very bad, obviously, for Orlando," coach Scott Linehan said. "He had a real unfortunate injury and we'll have to pick up the pieces.

"Come Sunday, we'll have our best five out there."

The 31-year-old Pace has been injured in consecutive games. He was placed on injured reserve last November with a torn triceps, also sustained while pass blocking, that knocked him out for the last seven games. He also missed an early-season game in 2006 with a concussion.

Before last season, Pace had been to seven straight Pro Bowls. And until last season he had been durable, missing six games in 2002 with calf and hamstring injuries, but starting every game in the other six seasons.

Adam Goldberg, who made two starts in 2006, replaced Pace in Sunday's 27-13 loss to Carolina. The Rams allowed one sack, but the offense struggled without the anchor of a young line, managing 16 first downs and 238 yards total offense.

[austintx05]

i think its great....so much hype...now reality